Muhammad al-Maqaleh released in Yemen

March 25, 2010 4:31 PM ET

We issued the following statement in response to local and international press reports that Muhammad al-Maqaleh, editor of the Yemeni Socialist Party news Web site Aleshteraki, has been released for what the reports described as “health and humanitarian reasons.” Al-Maqaleh was kidnapped in September 2009 but appeared in government custody in February and alleged that he had been tortured. The release comes one week after CPJ called on President Saleh of Yemen to release a number of journalists who are in custody. At least two other journalists remain in custody...

“We are relieved to hear that Muhammad al-Maqaleh has been set free, particularly since he has suffered greatly while in custody,” said Mohamed Abdel Dayem, CPJ program coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa. “We call on Yemeni authorities to review the cases of all journalists who remain in custody. They must be charged or be released immediately.”